Dirk
Time Period: 16th-19th century
Location: Scotland
Common Construction: Steel

The dirk is a primarily Scottish dagger that evolved from the dudgeon dagger and ballock dagger. It has a wooden hilt and a long single edged blade. Dirks have a much wider blade than typical daggers of the period. The Scottish always preferred wider blades than those of other countries; Highlanders carried broadswords instead of rapiers and dirks instead of daggers.

Nearly every Scottish male owned a dirk, and it was carried with them at all times. It was intended as a backup weapon for the broadsword, but those without the financial means to own a sword used the dirk as their primary weapon.